MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Dr. Shakib: Immunization against influenza in the first six months of life is ineffective due to an immature immune response. Passive protection via maternal immunization offers an alternative but only a few studies have evaluated the efficacy of this immunization strategy. We found that in infants born to women immunized against influenza during pregnancy, the risk of laboratory-confirmed influenza and influenza-related hospitalization were reduced by 70% and 81% in their first 6 months of life, respectively.This large study provides more evidence that when women are immunized against influenza during pregnancy, their infants are much less likely to be diagnosed with influenza in their first 6 months.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Dr. Shakib: Although influenza immunization uptake increased to a high of 52% in the 2013-14 influenza season, immunization against influenza in pregnancy remains suboptimal and should be a public health priority.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr. Shakib: The safety and efficacy of influenza vaccine in protecting both pregnant women and infants are well-established. Future studies could and should focus on potential ways to improve the benefits of maternal vaccination in protecting young infants against influenza, such as breast feeding following maternal influenza immunization.

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Dr. Shakib: I would recommend that all clinicians who provide obstetric care should both strongly advise their patients to receive the influenza vaccine and ensure they have the resources in their practices to provide influenza vaccine to all of their patients.

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